Visa and Passport Requirements and Information

Not eligible for USA visa:

Anyone with a disease that could prove detrimental to others (communicable)
Anyone with a criminal record or people who have been arrested in the past
Drug users or traffickers
Anyone who has, in the past, been denied entry or been banned from entering the USA

Visa Waivers apply to citizens of the following countries:

Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Singapore and Switzerland.

The Visa Waiver applies to all EU Countries except nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Slovak Republic. Citizens from these countries would require a VISA for their USA holiday.

Citizens who apply for the waiver program above must make note that their passports must be valid for at least 90 days before their entry to the USA and must be valid for 6 months post their departure date.

As of October 26 2004, all tourists using the VISA Waiver program require 'machine-readable' passports. Children who used to travel on their parents' passport, now require such a passport of their own.

Visas are required by all entrants to the USA except those who are part of the Visa Waiver Program and the following groups:

Citizens of Bermuda and Canada*
Citizens of Mexico*
*both require valid passports

Tourist, Business, Transit & Student. Visa applications cost in the region of $100 per application. It's wise to note that this fee doesn't guarantee application approval. The fee will not fall away should the application be denied.

Most visas have a specific period of validity, unless marked as valid indefinitely in which case the Visa is valid for 10 years. Length of stay, as decided upon by immigration officials, is usually 6 months, but there isn't any set time hereupon.

Application Requirements

Application form (DS-156 and DS-157)
Valid passport (if required as per above conditions)
Passport photo
Embassy copy of payment receipt
Funds to cover entire stay in the USA
Proof of intent to return
Miscellaneous documents (reason for visit, insurances etc)
Self addressed envelope
Proof of intended business activities (if visit for business reasons)

	Passport Required	Visa Required	Return Ticket Required
British	Yes	No/2/3	Yes
Australian	Yes	No/2	Yes
Canadian	Yes	No/1	No
USA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Other EU	Yes	No/2	Yes
Japanese	Yes	No/2	Yes

User Comments & Reviews

etj
2009-10-14 21:24:10

i have a valid H1-B visa but my visa stamp expired. Can I travel to puerto rico?

Admin
2009-10-06 09:38:08

Puerto Rico has been under U.S. sovereignty for over a century, and Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917. (quoted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._state) Therefore, travel document requirements are the same as for the United States. Please consult the Embassy or representative authority for the United States located in your country for specific travel requirements. Thank you.

paul pelletier
2009-10-04 23:55:50

we are considering a trip to Puerto Rico & want to be sure a passbook is not necessary. is it correct that all is required are birth & marriage cetificates with picture id's. pleas list everything that is required for a trip from the usa to pertorico & back to the usa..................thank you

charity de veyra
2009-10-03 23:51:37

I am given a 6 months stay here in US and be going back to the Philippines by Dec 11, 2009 from LAX California. Can i come anytime to San Juan Puerto Rico for a month and have to problems coming back to the US to depart back to the Philippines.

Admin
2009-09-28 11:41:45

gabriela hernandez
2009-09-25 17:58:34

I'm from Mexico but rigth now I don't have US Visa so Can I go to Puerto Rico?

Bobinder Bobinder
2009-08-29 00:45:25

I am my wife are work and live in the US (california) We are on H-1B visa. Do we need a sepeate visa to visit Puerto Rico for a week?

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